Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul was back defending himself on Sunday, less than 24 hours after making two stunning penalty saves against Costa Rica to book his team's place in the World Cup semi-finals.

The towering Krul replaced first-choice keeper Jasper Cillessen specifically for the shootout in Salvador after the teams finished extra time deadlocked at 0-0. It was the first time in World Cup history that a keeper had been brought on just for penalties.

The 26-year-old vindicated his coach's unorthodox substitution when he saved spot-kicks from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana to give the Dutch a 4-3 shootout victory and a place in the semi-finals against Argentina.

Penalty hero: Tim Krul came off the bench to save two penalties. Photo: AP

But he also came under heavy criticism on social media for his intimidating tactics against the Costa Rican penalty takers, staring them down and yelling at them before they took their shots.

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Asked whether he had overstepped the line of good sportsmanship, a defiant Krul said he had nothing to apologise for.

"I didn't shout anything nasty at them. I just told them that I knew where they were going. I'm trying obviously to get in their heads and it worked yesterday.

"It's a way of trying to psyche them out. Obviously they are under massive pressure, I'm under massive pressure as well so I used everything in my power to make it happen and luckily enough, happy enough it happened."

Krul, who has saved just two of 20 penalties he faced with his club side Newcastle, said the mind games had begun even before he stood on the line to try and save the first spot-kick.

Any respect I had for #HOL has gone after Tim Krul's despicable 'gamesmanship'. Hope Zaba, Demichelis et al turn this lot over